SPRINGFIELD, MASS. – Borislav Stankovic, enshrined as a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991, has passed away at the age of 94.
“The Basketball Hall of Fame family mourns the loss and celebrates the life of Borislav Stankovic,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “Mr. Stankovic was a visionary for basketball around the world and his leadership with FIBA has undoubtedly had a tremendous impact on the game in a multitude of ways. He was instrumental in bridging the NBA and international leagues, professional and the amateur game making basketball the globally connected game it is today.”
As secretary-general of FIBA, basketball’s international governing body, Mr. Stankovic popularized international basketball and turned the game into a sport followed by the whole world. Like many outstanding administrators, Stankovic began as a player. He starred with the Red Star Club of Belgrade, the team that won the 1946 and 1947 Yugoslavia championships. From 1948 to 1953, Stankovic also played on the Yugoslavian national team, participating in the first World Championships in Buenos Aires in 1950. A devoted ambassador of international basketball, Stankovic served as a member of the Central Board, Yugoslavia Federation, Yugoslavia Olympic Committee, and European Cup Commission. In 1987, he worked with NBA commissioner David Stern to organize preseason exhibition games between NBA teams and the top teams from Europe. Two years later, Mr. Stankovic’s work to include NBA players in the Olympic Games resulted in the 1992 Dream Team.
About the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was born, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving and celebrating the game of basketball at every level – men and women, amateur and professional players, coaches and contributors, both domestically and internationally. The Hall of Fame museum is home to more than 400 inductees and over 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Nearly 200,000 people visit the Hall of Fame museum each year to learn about the game, experience the interactive exhibits and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo "Court of Dreams." Best known for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the game’s elite, the Hall of Fame also operates over 70 high school and collegiate competitions annually throughout the country and abroad. For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame organization, its museum and events, visit www.hoophall.com, follow @hoophall or call 1-877-4HOOPLA.